Valeriana

Valeriana officinalis L.

“The yagil root is noted in many legends, fairy tales and songs. It protects against witches and demons. He cleanses criminal places, he heals a wounded heart. There are many names at the root.

He and forest incense. He's a Chemer too. He is also Katyr. And Marian, and whitehead, and thigh, and cat's joy, and baldrian, and meun, and feverish root, and overcomer, and deaf sickle, and ugly woman, and magpie, and odeyan, and housewrap, and baldir, and waragusha, and goatweed , and commotion, and full root, hodreynik, and glesnik, ovary, and grudovka, and freckle, and baldyryan, and katnavika, and pyatioshnik, and mountain ash, and koprovnik, and overyan, and stoyan, and palma... Unknown What is the name of the healing root in different places...

The wide variety of names also shows the varied uses of the root. In various places hopes of partial healings are pinned on him. Where they treat the heart, where the chest, where the eyes...

While receiving relief from various diseases, people lost sight of the fact that the effects on the general nervous system, of course, had a beneficial effect on the entire body.”

The origin of the name of this plant is unknown. Either from Latinvaleo- to be healthy, or maybe fromvalere- strong, strong.

Marcela Empirica in her treatise “On Medicine” calls valerian “nard”, “sumbul”. In the ancient world it was called very briefly - “fu grass”. Hippocrates used valerian as an analgesic, diuretic and anti-asthmatic agent.

Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder added valerian root to wine and gave it to drink for chest illnesses, for choking and as a diuretic. There was an opinion that valerian actively influences the mental body of a person, that is, the world of his thoughts.

In ancient times, valerian root was included in the list of 12 essential medicines.

In Chinese medicine, this medicinal plant was valued as a reliable remedy for menstrual disorders, back pain, and the treatment of ulcers. In the Middle Ages, during a cholera epidemic, valerian tincture was taken as a prophylactic and to restore strength after typhoid and diphtheria.

The first mention of the healing power of valerian dates back to the 1st century AD. e. In the 18th century, it was included in the pharmacopoeias of all European countries. Today, valerian is part of Zelenin drops, valocardine, cardiovalene and other medications.

In folk medicine, an infusion of valerian is given to infants for abdominal pain (1 teaspoon every hour]. In case of severe fright, children are given a valerian bath. A strong decoction of valerian in combination with soda (on the tip of a coffee spoon) is used as an effective antipyretic.

“Valerian belongs to the category of life-givers and its value is equal to the value of blood in the body. Valerian is occultly regarded as the blood of the plant kingdom. It should be taken daily and continuously, without taking breaks, considering it on a par with daily food. You can take the tincture in alcohol, but, of course, without impurities, such as ether. Dose - from 10 to 25 and 30 drops. But it is best to drink valerian tea infused with roots. Maybe once or twice a day.”

Medicinal properties

1. Used in the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, scarlet fever, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
2. Strengthens the secretion of the glandular apparatus of the gastrointestinal tract, suppresses fermentation processes. Effective for spastic constipation, stomach colic, vomiting, as an anthelmintic.
3. Normalizes blood circulation and has a positive neuro-regulatory effect on the activity of the heart muscle. Used for diseases of the cardiovascular system, accompanied by spasms of the coronary vessels with tachycardia, for the prevention and treatment in the early stages of tachycardia, hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia, in particular with the phenomena of spasm of the coronary vessels of the heart.
4. Effective for menopausal disorders, uterine spasms.
5. Prescribed for diseases with increased thyroid function (Graves' disease), diabetes insipidus, liver and gallbladder diseases.
6. Reduces excessive sweating.
7. Helps restore strength after a long illness.
8. It has a calming effect on skin itching, scabies, urticaria, psoriasis, eczema, neurodermatitis, photodermatitis.
9. One of the remedies for the treatment of rheumatism.
10. In folk medicine, it is used to treat eyes, hysteria, chorea, epilepsy, sciatica, typhus, scarlet fever, female diseases, as an antipyretic, tonic, anthelmintic, and for menopausal disorders.
11. Recommended for diseases accompanied by nervous excitement, insomnia, migraine-like headaches, hysteria, mild forms of neurasthenia and psychoasthenia, vegetative neuroses, fear, fainting, epilepsy, states of fear, anxiety, nervous shock. Strengthens inhibition processes in the cerebral cortex, reduces reflex excitability.
12. A good tonic for aging skin. Stimulates nutrition and blood circulation of the epidermal layer of the skin. Soothes the skin during irritation and chapping. Can be used for baldness.

Dosage

Internally: 1-2 teaspoons per 1 glass of water with soda on the tip of a coffee spoon before bed (3.5-4 hours after meals).

Baths: 6-8 k.

Enrichment of cosmetics: 1-2 points per 10 G basics.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance, hypotension.

Note. The therapeutic effect is achieved with regular use (at least 6 months). In small doses, it moderately stimulates the central nervous system, in particular the respiratory and vasomotor centers.

In large doses, it depresses the central nervous system, weakens the sensitivity of peripheral nerve endings, reduces performance, causes drowsiness, headache, nausea, cardiac dysfunction and suppression of the gastrointestinal tract.